I am recycling potato bags, the plastic that covers toilet paper and water bottle packages, apple bags and grocery bags when I have too many. I do use some for small trash cans. I have cloth grocery bags that I need to use more.

I still get plastic bags at the grocery store since I use them to line my trash cans. I also keep one in the sink for garbage and dispose of it also in the trash since food scraps are not allowed in our recycling. Our trash is burned by our city. By reusing plastic bags I avoid buying bags to line my trash cans and to collect and dispose of food items such as peelings and other unwanted food items. The stores in our area do not charge for their plastic bags.

Some stores pay you if you bring your own bags. If more stores did that, more people would use them. Other stores charge you for grocery bags and I see people buying them all the time. These same stores have empty product boxes that you can use to pack your groceries. I think a lot of people just don't stop to think about recycling/reusing.

#1 isn't an option for those of us who live 30 miles (one way) from the nearest grocery store. Instead, learn to freeze, dehydrate and can. Keep an inventory and well-organized freezer and cupboards so that you know what you have. Meal plan around what you have and keep a running grocery list of what you need to be able to finish a meal. Once a week, have a leftover night.